Umbilical cord clamp



June 26, 1962 H. w. PAYTON 3,040,749

UMBILICAL CORD CLAMP Filed April 7, 1958 u] L /6 5 13 2 l2 6 I 5 m w. W2

I BY F'L g El Wu tates trite This invention relates to clamp apparatusand is more particularly directed to an umbilical cord clamp.

The various devices previously employed as umbilical cord clamps haveproven unsatisfactory in many respects. In most cases'the prior artclamp devices are too costly and too involved as to application. In manyinstances they are so formed that they may be inadvertently opened oncethey are applied. This is highly and fundamentally undesirable formedical applications. As a matter of fact, the present practice is toboth clamp and tie the umbilical cord to make certain that no accidentsoccur.

This invention provides an expendable and disposable umbilical cordclamp which is simple and very economical to fabricate. Moreover, theclamp is completely safe for medical purposes. Once it is closed itcannot be snapped opened and its nature is such that there is no traumato the skin of the belly in use.

A primary object of the invention is to provide improvements inumbilical cord clamps whereby such devices may not only be economicallymanufactured but will be more efiicient and satisfactory in use andadaptable to a wide variety of applications.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbilical cord clampwhich cannot be snapped opened, once it is closed in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved clamp aparatusarticularly applicable as a medical clamp which produces no trauma toadjacent surfaces in use.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an expendable anddisposable umbilical cord clamp which eliminates cleansing andsterilization procedures.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved umbilicalcord clamp which is self adjusting in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device particularlyapplicable for'use as an umbilical cord clamp possessing theadvantageous structural features, the inherent meritoriouscharacteristics and the mode of operation herein described.

A further object of the invention is to provide an umbilical cord clamppossessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritoriuscharacteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter describedor illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviouslynot necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention showing theclarnp in a closed condition;

FIG. 2 shows the clamp of FIG. 1 in an open condition;

FIG. 3 is atop View of the device as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGJI but showing the nature of the clamp asapplied to an umbilical cord.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

right angles from the face 6. The flange 7 has a hooked extremity 8projecting inwardly to the bar 1 and in the direction of the ears 5.

The part 2 consists ofa generally rectangular bar 11 having spacedprojections 9 on one face 10. A rib 12.

formed integral with the bar 11 projects centrally and longitudinallyfrom its opposite face 13 extending from a point short of one end 14 toproject beyond and from its other end 15.

The cars 5 on end 4 of the bard have oppositely aligned apertures. Theportion of the rib 12 which projects beyond the end 15 of the bar 1 hasopposite integral pin-like projections 16 laterally thereof. Theprojecting end portion of the rib 12 is disposed between the ears 5, theresilient nature of the plastic material enabling the spreading of theears so the pin-like projections may be engaged in the aperturestherein. The parts 1 and 2 are thus assembled in pivotal relation.

The connection of the parts 1 and 2 as shown is such to dispose the rib12 outwardly of the clamp assembly as the bar 11 is pivoted to nest tothe bar 1 between the flange 7 and the ears 5 to either end. Thisdisposes the face projections 9 on the bar 11 in abutment with the face6 of the bar 1.

The face 13 of the bar 11 adjacent its free end 14 is provided with anundercut recess 17 in alignment with the rib 12. The recess 17 isadapted to accommodate the hook 8 on the flange 7.

The advantages and application of the invention em bodiment are bestunderstood from its preferred use. The clamp assembly is applied aboutan umbilical cord C as seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the cord C beingreceived substantially centrally of part 1 to abut the face 6 betweenthe flange 7 and ears 5. The part 2 is then pivoted to nest in the part1 over the umbilical cord, the flange 7 being flexed to allow the end 14of the bar 11 to seat inwardly of the hook 8 which is then engaged overthe outer face of the bar 11 and into the recess 17 therein. The angleof the extremity of the hook 8 is such as to interlock in the undercutrecess of the bar 11. The cord C is pressured in the process to spreadlaterally and be compressed over the projections 9 on the inner face ofthe bar 11.

The clamp assembly is thus locked about and to the umbilical cord anddue to the initial substance of the cord the bar 1 is initially bowed bythe cord as it is locked. The greater the pressure effect on the bar 1,the tighter is the engagement of the hook 8 in. the undercut recess 17of the bar 11, in a manner believed obvious. The clamp unit is selfadjusting in that its resilient material will adjust to the shrinking ofthe cord due to the internal drying procedure. There is no traumadeveloped in the process.

An umbilical cord clamp so simply fabricated and assembled is so cheapas to be readily disposable and expendable. It eliminates the usualsterilization and cleansing procedures necessary in the use ofpresent-types of umbilical cord clamps and ties. The present inventiondistinguishes, moreover, in that it is permanent and positive in natureand cannot be inadvertently snapped open once it has been applied to thecord. The inherent locking features of the clamp assembly and its selfadjusting characteristics are invaluable for medical application. In

the preferred use of the invention there is no pull on the umbilicalcord in any sense.

7 Patented June 26, 1962 From the above description it will be apparentthat there is thus provided a device of the character describedpossessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated asdesirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in itsform, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the principle involved or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into efiect,and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

7 with when the opposed faces of said elements are in contactingrelation.

2. A device particular applicable as an umbilical cord clamp including,a first bar element, a second bar element swingingly connected thereto,opposed faces of said bar elements being disposed in relatively abuttingrelation when closed, one end of the said first bar element having anintegral hook extremity, a recess within said second bar elementadiacent an endthereof, said hook extremity being formed to overlap andengage within said recess to provide a positive fixed relation of saidelements.

3. A device particularly applicable to an umbilical clamp including, afirst generally rectangular element of a relatively elongated nature, asecond generally rectangular element swingingly connected to said firstelement, said first element having a generally rectangular hookextrernity formed integral therewith, said elements being of a resilientmaterial, spaced projections on onesurface of one of said elements forrelative abutment with the other element on swinging thereof, a recessin the opposite surface of said second element, the hook extremity ofsaid first element being adapted to interengage in the recess of saidsecond element on flexing thereof to permit the passage of said secondelement, whereby said hook on the first element is positively lockedwithin said second element so as to resist any efiort to move saidsecond element therefrom.

4. A device particularly applicable as an umbilical cord clampincluding, a first bar element, a second bar element connected to saidfirst bar element at one of its extremities and adapted to lie incontacting abutting relation with the first bar element and to nestwithin the other extremity thereof, and interengageable hook meansintegrally formed on the free extremity of each of said barelementscoacting when engaged to fixedly connect said extremities in relativelypermanent fashion.

5. A device particularly applicable'as an umbilical cord clampincluding, a first generally rectangular element of an elongated nature,a second-generally rectangular element of an elongated nature, saidfirst element being bifuracted at one end and having a reversed hookextremity at right angles to its other end, said second element having aprojecting portion including laterally projecting pivot means pivotingsaid second element to the bifurcated end of said first element, theother end of said second element being adapted to be contained by thehook extremity of said first element and having means formed forcontainment by an interengagement with said reversed hook extremity soas to prevent inadvertent separation of said elements.

6. A device particularly applicable as an umbilical cord clamp includinga pair of superimposed elements inter-connected at one extremitythereof, interengaging male and female portions at the other extremitythereof, said female portion having means integral therewith foroverlapping and containing the male portion against lateral and verticaldisplacement, said containing means and said male element havingcomplementary surfaces which upon engagement interlock to a degreeproportionate to etlor-ts to displace said male element from said femaleelement.

7. A device particularly applicable as an umbilical cord ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 600,887 PettitMar. 22, 1898 643,003 Pollock Feb. 6, 1900 1,710,766 Dilworth Apr. 30,1929 2,114,903 Hoppenstand Apr. 19, 1938 Kortlucke et a1 Feb. 21, 1950Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 93,184involving Patent No. 3,040,7 1 UMBILI'OAL CORD CLAMP, final judgmentadverse to t rendered Se t. 28, 1964, as to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.

[0 cial Gazette February 23, 1965.]

9 H. W. Payton,

